Preparing for adulthood: Staying healthy, well and active

Preparing for adulthood: Healthy Mind - Supporting mental wellbeing in young people with SEND

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND), might find it harder to express how they are feeling or to recognise when they need help.

Helping your child build emotional awareness and giving them tools to cope can make a big difference to their wellbeing.

Anxiety, stress and panic

Stress and anxiety can look different in young people with SEND. Instead of verbalising their worries, they might:

  • Withdraw or become unusually quiet
  • Experience meltdowns or emotional outbursts
  • Show physical symptoms like stomach aches or headaches

What helps?

  • Create a calm, predictable environment
  • Use visual tools or emotion charts to help them name their feelings
  • Practice calming techniques together, like breathing exercises or sensory breaks

Helpful resources

Sleep and tiredness in young people with SEND

Sleep difficulties are common among young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), especially those with autism, ADHD, or sensory processing differences. Poor sleep can affect mood, concentration, learning, behaviour, and emotional regulation, impacting overall wellbeing.

Tips for better sleep

  • Establish a consistent bedtime routine to help signal when it's time to wind down.
  • Use visual schedules or bedtime routines to support understanding and reduce anxiety.
  • Create a calm and predictable sleep environment, using sensory-friendly bedding, blackout curtains, or white noise if helpful.
  • Adjust lighting to suit sensory needs - some children may benefit from dim lights or night lights.

Helpful Resources

Emotional and mental health

Everyone has emotional ups and downs, but for some young people with SEND, understanding and expressing emotions may require extra support.

A good tip for supporting emotional wellbeing is to create a Mental Health First Aid Kit, a personalised set of tools that might include:

  • Fidget toys or sensory items
  • A list of trusted people to talk to
  • Calming music of activities
  • Visual emotion cards or social stories

Find out more at:

Feeling lonely or isolated

Social situations can be challenging for young people with SEND, leading to feelings of loneliness or exclusion. This can impact their confidence, school engagement, and emotional health.

Ways to support connection:

  • Encourage participation in special interest clubs or online communities
  • Explore local befriending services tailored to SEND needs

Local support:

Bromley's Tackling Loneliness Strategy (2022–2026) emphasises a whole-community approach to reducing loneliness across all age groups, including young people with SEND. The strategy highlights the importance of social connections and aims to build a culture where loneliness is recognised and addressed without stigma.

Befriending services in Bromley offer supportive, reliable relationships through volunteer befrienders to individuals who might otherwise be socially isolated. These services are designed to help young people with SEND build meaningful connections, boost self-esteem, and feel less alone.

For more information on befriending services and support options, visit the Bromley Befriending Services page.

Additional support, advice and guidance can also be found at Young Minds and Childline.

More support

Find out more information for children and young people up to 18 years of age on the SEND emotional wellbeing and mental health page which outlines the support available for them. It includes information on crisis support services such as emergency contacts and the Bromley Mental Health Crisis Line, as well as details about local mental health services like Bromley Y and CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), which offer assessment and treatment for more complex needs. The page also highlights tools like CAMHS Ready to help families and young people navigate support, and it explains community-based initiatives such as the Dynamic Support Register and Care Education and Treatment Reviews, which aim to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions by coordinating care in the community.